Bundesliga Matchday 20 Preview: Plot Twist!

The latest plot twist in this Bundesliga season was written by Eintracht Frankfurt who grounded high-flying and high-scoring RB Leipzig, last weekend. Just like that, Bayern Munich are just a point behind, followed by the two Borussias. What will the next chapter hold? Welcome to Matchday 20 (All times CT).

HERTHA BERLIN vs SCHALKE (Friday at 1:30pm, FS2):

Hertha got a much-needed come-from-behind win over Wolfsburg last week. They are still just five points ahead of the danger zone, but reinforcements are on the way such as Santiago Ascacibar who featured last week, Dedryck Boyata who is back from suspension, and Polish international Krzysztof Piatek coming in from AC Milan. 

The Royal Blues are licking their wounds after a 5-0 thrashing by Bayern last week that dropped the from the top five. Weston McKennie is still wearing a split from a dislocated shoulder, but did appear as a sub last week. GoalkeeperAlexander Nübel returns from suspension. 

MAINZ vs. BAYERN MUNICH (Saturday at 8:30am, FS1)

A fourth straight loss for the 05ers has them just one point clear of the relegation playoff spot. Having the joint-most charitable defense in the league is not the best thing against Bayern. It also doesn’t help that they shipped six at the Allianz back on Matchday 3. It gets worse after center back Ronael Pierre-Gabriel picked up a knock last week against Gladbach and is a doubt.

Bayern are currently the hottest team in the league winning their last five. They have outscored their last two opponents, 9-0. They will be top for at least a couple hours should they win on Saturday. Robert Lewandowski is currently top of the Golden Boot race with 21 goals. Again, not the best time for Mainz to face the seven-time defending champs.

BORUSSIA DORTMUND vs. UNION BERLIN (Saturday at 8:30am, FS2)

Undoubtedly, the hottest player in the Bundesliga is Erling Haaland with five goals in two matches—all as a sub. They have outscored opponents, 10-4, in their last two matches. He may still be on the bench while Marco Reus, Thorgan Hazard, and Jadon Sancho continue to start up front. 

Union stunned BVB on Matchday 3 for their first-ever top flight win. While they have six wins at home, they have just five points out of 24 away from the Forest. They are still comforted by a six point cushion between them after danger after defeating Augsburg last time out. They do have to cut down the fouls a bit. They lead the Bundesliga with 301 fouls. BVB is at the other end with 165.

HOFFENHEIM vs. BAYER LEVERKUSEN (Saturday at 8:30am, Fox Soccer Plus)

Hoffenheim’s win over Werder Bremen last week gave them 17 points from 24 away from the PreZero Arena. They are currently three points off the European places. Munas Dabbur played 60 minutes in his debut for the Sinsheimers and is expected to start alongside Andrej Kramaric once again.  

Die Werkself is eyeing a fourth win on the bounce following a 3-0 win over Fortuna Dusseldorf. They are in fifth, just two points adrift of BVB for a Champions League spot. Kai Havertz looks to have found his scoring form against after already matching his goal total in the Hinrunde (two). 

FORTUNA DUSSELDORF vs. EINTRACHT FRANKFURT (Saturday at 8:30am, Fox Soccer Matchpass)

Uwe Rösler has been tasked with lifting Fortuna out of the relegation zone. One win in the last six and an anemic offense has Fortuna bottom of the Bundesliga on goals scored and three points from safety.  Rösler replaces Friedhelm Funkel who was sacked after the 3-0 defeat to Leverkusen. 

It’s been back-to-back wins for the Eagles to start the Ruckrunde after a slump to end the Hinrunde. Some of the adjustments made by Adi Hütter include a shift to a four-man backline, a rejuvenated Timothy Chandler at right wing, and Bas Dost as the lone striker. As a result, Frankfurt currently sit ninth, though five points adrift of eighth. 

FC AUGSBURG vs. WERDER BREMEN (Saturday at 8:30am, Fox Soccer Matchpass)

Augsburg are looking to curb their slide of three straight losses. Prior to the Leipzig defeat, Die Fuggerstadter had won their last three at the WWK. Florian Niederlechner has been involved in 52 percent of the club’s goals so far this season (10 goals, six assists). 

Bremen are also trying to stem a skid having lost five of their last six. They begin this weekend one point behind 15th place Mainz for outright safety. The road has been a better place for the Green-Whites as they have amasses 12 points away from the Weser Stadion compared to just five at it. They do get Niklas Moisander back from suspension.

RB LEIPZIG vs. BORUSSIA MÖNCHENGLADBACH (Saturday at 11:30am, FS2)

First versus third in the marquee matchup of the weekend. Julian Nagelsmann is “impatient” to bring a title to Leipzig. No one outside of Dortmund or Bayern has won the league since 2008-2009 when Wolfsburg did it. They will look to get back to winning ways after their nine-match unbeaten run was snapped by Frankfurt last weekend allowing Bayern and their opponents back in the title race.

Gladbach came from behind to defeat Mainz last week. The best defense in the Bundesliga will look to keep Timo Werner off the score sheet. However, their next win over Leipzig would be their first has they have never beaten them in seven attempts, including four straight losses. Patrick Herrmann, Marcus Thuram, and Alassane Plea will likely be called upon to provide the scoring.

FC COLOGNE vs. SC FREIBURG (Sunday at 8:30am, FS1)

The Billy Goats were flying high with four straight wins until Dortmund came and thrashed them, 5-1. They are now in 14th, four points clear of the danger zone. The form overall has been better under Markus Gisdol where they have amassed 13 points from eight matches compared to seven in eleven under Achim Beierlozer. 

Four points from five matches has Freiburg down to eighth and four points away from the top six. Last week was especially bad as they fell at home to Paderborn. There was a plus as Luas Waldschmidt made an appearance as a sub after injuries and a cold kept him out the past six matchdays. He may make his first start since October.

SC PADERBORN vs. WOLFSBURG (Sunday at 11am, FS2)

Paderborn has some life after a 2-0 away win at Freiburg. They are still three points adrift of total safety, but they benefitted from the struggles of the teams around them at the bottom of the table. A win over the Wolves, plus favorable results elsewhere could lift them out of the drop zone for the first time since Matchday 3. Anthony Evans could feature after joining the club from Everton. 

The Wolves enter this match on a three-match losing streak and a return of just seven points out of a possible 30. During that spell, they have just scored seven goals with Wout Weghorst goalless in his last six. This comes after they were just two points off the top on Matchday 13 and unbeaten in their last nine.